衬垫 (chèn diàn) — (type of) pad (for shaping, protection, or comfort); (type of) liner (for clothing, packaging, or containers)

Definition

A layer of material placed inside or under something to cushion, protect, or shape it — like suit shoulders, box packaging, or a laptop sleeve. The verb form 衬垫 is rare; the noun sense is what learners need.

noun
(type of) pad (for shaping, protection, or comfort)(type of) liner (for clothing, packaging, or containers)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 衬垫
    Zhè jiàn xī zhuāng de chèn diàn ràng jiān bǎng kàn qǐ lái hěn tǐng.
    The pad in this suit makes the shoulders look very straight.
  • 衬垫
    Kuài dì xiāng zi lǐ miàn jiā le yī céng chèn diàn, fáng zhǐ dōng xī shuāi huài.
    A layer of liner was added inside the express box to prevent items from breaking.
  • 衬垫
    Tā zài bēi bāo dǐ bù fàng le yí gè chèn diàn lái bǎo hù bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo.
    She put a pad at the bottom of the backpack to protect the laptop.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

衬 and 垫 refer to lining and padding, together meaning a pad or liner.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 衬 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 墊; 垫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
earth
Sound part声符shēngfú
zhídiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 墊 pairs 土, showing earth, with 執, providing the sound; this is about 墊, not the simplified 垫.

Open 垫 →

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